IES Blog

The news about this is out in the industry but spreading slowly!!  Please pass it on…

It was confirmed by the Government the other week that although Part L 2010 will come into force on 1st October 2010 as planned; the related EPC section has been delayed until 27th March 2011.

Obviously this has implications for all Energy Assessors – both domestic and non-domestic. 

As mentioned, this deferment will not affect implementation of Part L 2010 for Building Regulation purposes on 1st October 2010, or the transitional provisions already laid before parliament.  The main complication comes when an application is submitted after 1st October 2010 and the project completed before 27th March 2011, therefore requiring an EPC. 

Calculations for building regulations DER/TER (both at design and completion stage), will be to Part L 2010, but the EPC will have to be done to Part L 2006 methodologies.  In many case this will mean extra work for the EA with no additional return.  For example, if using iSBEM separate models will need to be built in different versions of the software; one for Building Regulations compliance and the other to calculate the EPC!

Though it is not expected that this will affect many developments, as most will not be in a position to lodge an EPC within the delayed period, what has been overlooked is the need for design professional to understand the relative difference between EPC ratings – which will be one of the main questions asked by their clients!

Lack of clarity on exactly what the changes to EPCs calculations will be will hamper understanding, and ultimately reduce clients and designers opportunity future-proof buildings.

Designers who need to go back to a previous software version for final Part L ‘as built’ compliance will also face many of the same issues and its therefore essential that any software user who wants the flexibility to switch between 2006 and 2010 versions for whatever reason makes sure that their software will enable this without doubling their effort.

As a consequence, we’re in the process of adding a new feature to our software allowing designers to easily switch between our VE Compliance 2010 and 2006 modules.  This previously unavailable backwards compatibility (of the VE Compliance model) will enable IES users to avoid double input of data resulting from the delay in the new EPCs.  While this will provide a useful facility for projects during the transition between the 2006 and 2010 regulation frameworks, it will also aid in allowing users to easily go back to Part L (2006) if required for old projects.

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Tags:Energy Assessors, EPCs, IES, Part L, Part L 2010, ve-compliance

There is a growing concern from many in the industry that competent surveyors might be banned from collaborating with accredited Energy Assessors on the creation of commercial EPCs.

CLG recently issued a widely distributed draft directive to the Accreditation Schemes relating to the department’s concerns about the use of data gathers.  This was in response to questions being raised about the accuracy of some of the EPCs being submitted.  It set out possible changes to restrict the collection of EPC data by those other than qualified Energy Assessors, which could limit the scope for competent surveyors to collaborate on the production of accurate EPCs.

It’s become evident that standards need to be set and there should be no place for data gathers of dubious accuracy.  However, the suggested allowance for Level 4 and 5 assessors to use ‘data gatherers’ under certain conditions appears to be too restrictive to meet the needs of a struggling industry.

CLG should be cautious before jumping to any snap decisions.  Accreditation Schemes need sufficient flexibility to encourage the right experienced professionals to collaborate on EPCs especially on more complex buildings where data gathering and EPC input are inevitably more specialist tasks. 

It’s a difficult tightrope to walk – to put in sufficient measures to raise standards without being too prescriptive.  We need arrangements that will allow professional surveyors to work, or even appoint commercial Energy Assessors.  EPCs need to be able to improve the standards of building and also fit with the established ways professionals within the industry are already collaborating.

See Building Services Design and Building for more information

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Tags:Accreditation, CLG, Energy Assessors, EPCs